Rob and Nelson Bird hate sawdust; “it’s a waste of good resource”.
Committed to best recovery, father and son, Rob and Nelson Bird own Tasmanian Native Timbers. In their words the business is ‘committed to the preservation and promotion of Tasmania’s unique environment…we obtain our range of saw logs and craft logs from a variety of sources… This allows us to mill logs that would be bypassed, destroyed, turned into pulp or used for firewood.’
Originally from Queensland, where they were selling Paulownia timber from plantations, they purchased in Elizabeth Town a few years ago. The Birds are timber people; building, making and milling as close as possible to the finished size. They mill multiple species, some sawn for cladding and landscaping use, others for furniture and joinery and some for crafts.
Their range of timber includes Sassafras, Blackwood, Celery Top Pine, Silver Wattle, Huon Pine and Myrtle in addition to Eucalypt species and Macrocarpa. Specialist varieties such as Tiger Myrtle and burls from Myrtle and Eucalypts are also provided. By volume, the majority of timber milled by Rob and Nelson is Blackwood and Macrocarpa.
Committed to “best use” of available logs and recovered timber, they achieve this through the way they:
- source logs;
- apply technology; and
- practice their craft.
The focus is on reduced waste of high quality material. This Principal evolves into milling to the specific requirements of the makers/producers. Their bandsaw and log treatment allows timber to be provided closer to the finished dimensions, reducing the work and waste for the producer. A high percentage of logs are able to be recovered, the approach also leading to less waste in the workshop where the timber is transformed into objects.
Much of the timber they mill would often be by-passed, destroyed or used for low value purposes. Milling and dressing their own timber and making some furniture (Nelson trained in traditional stair making.) gives them a firm understanding of timber, what to look for in logs and a ‘know-how’ in cutting the timber to obtain best recovery and best use.
The focus is on reduced waste of high quality material. This Principal evolves into milling to the specific requirements of the makers/producers. Their bandsaw and log treatment allows timber to be provided closer to the finished dimensions, reducing the work and waste for the producer. A high percentage of logs are able to be recovered, the approach also leading to less waste in the workshop where the timber is transformed into objects.
Much of the timber they mill would often be by-passed, destroyed or used for low value purposes. Milling and dressing their own timber and making some furniture (Nelson trained in traditional stair making.) gives them a firm understanding of timber, what to look for in logs and a ‘know-how’ in cutting the timber to obtain best recovery and best use.
They utilise many sources of saw and craft logs – log brokers, other millers, private owners clearing or removing hedges, arborists and some fire-wood contractors with an eye for what makes a log attractive to the specialty millers. This variety of sources means that their timber has a story, a strong narrative of recovery and waste minimisation that helps to position the final product in the market, reflecting an earlier tradition of use, re-use and frugality.
While Rob and Nelson tender for some IST logs, most timber is privately sourced, apart from Huon Pine which is purchased direct from IST. This includes doing some portable milling and milling logs on others behalf. Always looking for new opportunities they have completed some milling trials using plantation timber.
They service a mixed market of furniture, cabinet makers and crafts producers and a Sydney outlet with slabs, boards and craft timbers. Much effort is applied to their digital marketing through web-site and “Gum Tree” to Tasmanian and interstate buyers. However, as with much of the sector, “word of mouth” is a vital part and the network expands as their reputation grows. As the relationships develop, the option of providing green sections to producer’s specs as an option to selling dried and carrying the stock helps ensure viability.
Respect for the timber, a hands on approach to log recovery along with ongoing innovation through values, ideas, technology and the business model is represented by Rob and Nelson as the basis of sustainability.